Could Your Baby Have Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a very common problem that affects infants in their first three months. It is painful and often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as colic because the baby tends to be very fussy. However, it is treatable and once your baby has found relief, he will tend to settle down.

The technical name for acid reflux is gastroesophageal reflux or GER. Basically what happens is that the contents of the stomach come back up the throat. Since the stomach is full of highly potent acid, this can burn. It is pretty much the same thing as heartburn, but tends to happen because the sphincter which is supposed to close off the top of the stomach isn't functioning correctly.

This is quite common in small babies because their bodies are still learning certain functions and it is possible that the stomach sphincter hasn´t fully developed yet. The problem usually goes away on its own, but in the meantime, it can be very uncomfortable for the infant and very difficult for the parents who are trying to calm their baby.

If your baby is fussy, especially after eating or when laying on his back, and frequently vomits (not the regular baby burp spitting up, but actual puking), he might have acid reflux. A doctor can diagnose it for you and recommend a medicine which helps lessen the amount of acid.

General tips to help combat acid reflux are pretty simple. Keep your baby sitting or reclined while eating and for about an hour afterwards. Gravity will help him keep things down. Many parents also find that a wedge pillow in the mattress or inclining the mattress is a big help, since it prevents the acid from leaving the stomach as often. Babies who have difficulties sleeping may suddenly begin to sleep very well when they are put on an incline to sleep.

Babies who are bottle fed can have rice cereal added to their formula to thicken it slightly, making it more difficult to vomit. This alone can be pretty much a cure for many babies and the rice cereal helps them stay full longer, as an added bonus. Sometimes, smaller, more frequent feedings work better. The frequency of feedings helps keep the stomach acid diluted and also prevents overfeeding, which can cause the extra milk or liquid to be regurgitated.

Acid reflux can make for some long nights, but if you are careful not to overfeed your baby and burp him after every couple of ounces, things should go smoother. Nearly all babies outgrow this problem by the time they reach one year of age, most will be fine after just a few months.